Crossing to Pakistan, and some baksheesh.
Trip Start
Sep 04, 2008
1
16
33
Trip End
Dec 17, 2008
Lahore, Pakistan
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
I grabbed some breakfast with Tom at our favorite tea stall, where we dined on panneer pranthas and chai, a proper Punjabi breakfast. For the last 2 miles to the border, I took a cycle rickshaw. The ride was extremely peaceful, with farmland on either side of the road, and no motorized traffic to be seen anywhere.
I went from serenity to anger a few minutes later, when the Indian immigration official told me my Pakistani visa was no good and I'd have to go to Delhi to straighten it out. When the visa had been printed, it was off center, and the expiration date was cut off by the margin. I didn't think much of it at the time, but never again will I trust in the common sense of immigration officials. After some arguing, I convinced the Indian official that it was the Pakistanis' job to worry about the visa, and he asked his friend to begin filling out the forms. But, the whole time, he kept grabbing my arm and saying "We are helping you out. Why don't you help us out?" "Help my friend!" "Please, help my friend out." So, it was just another story of someone looking for some baksheesh (bribe).
At this point, I was pretty pissed, and decided I'd rather skip pakistan altogether than pay this guy off. So, I told him I'd 'help him out' after I got my passport and papers. Once they were finished, I grabbed my papers and stormed out, ignoring them as they called after me.
From there, I took a deep breath and walked under an arch that read "Welcome to Pakistan", where a bulky officer in a tight green t-shirt and shiny black boots sat sipping his chai. He offered me a seat at the plastic table, and we waited for his superior officer. I was a bit nervous, but the guy who came out was making jokes nonstop, and I soon forgot to be angry at the Indian officer on the other side. Three bus rides and three hours later, somehow I found my way to the Regale Internet Inn, the only respectable backpacker hostel in Lahore.
Comments
You gready bustard !!;)
You are tricking the bribe hungry Pakistani officers -not good my friend.
Watch your back, they will catch you,....
...big tension...;))))